Gladiator graveyard discovered in northern England
Gladiator graveyard discovered in northern EnglandDozens of headless skeletons excavated from a northern English building site appear to be the remains of Roman gladiators, one of whom had bites from a lion, tiger, bear or other large animal, archaeologists said Monday.
Experts said new forensic evidence suggests the bones belong to the professional fighters, who were often killed while entertaining spectators.
Most of the skeletons were male and appeared stronger and taller than the average Roman, with signs of arm-muscle stress that suggest weapons training that began in the men's teenage years.
"The presence of bite marks is one of the strongest pieces of evidence suggesting an arena connection. It would seem highly unlikely that this individual was attacked by a tiger as he was walking home," said Michael Wysocki, a lecturer in forensic anthropology and archaeology who studied the skeletons. The bites were believed to have caused the person's death, he said.
York -- about 200 miles (322 kilometers) north of London -- was one of the largest cities in Roman Britain, and experts believe bands of gladiators touring the Roman Empire occasionally traveled here to put on fighting shows.
Wysocki said gladiators were often beheaded as an act of mercy after suffering horrific injuries during their fights. All of the skeletons were buried with pottery, animals or other offerings, suggesting they were respected people, not criminals.
But some experts said more evidence was needed to prove that the York burial ground was exclusively for gladiators.
"It's clearly a very intriguing cemetery, but I'm skeptical. Identifying gladiators is always tricky," said Jim Crow, the head of archaeology at the University of Edinburgh. "There could be a host of circumstances for a group of men who've lost their heads -- they might be soldiers beheaded for some particular reason."
"We know that (gladiators) toured the empire, but very little is known about them in Britain," Hall said. "They would be performing for the local governor or a rich person, but it was probably on rare occasions."
The York Archaeological Trust said that the burial ground was not the first of its kind to be uncovered but it was among the best preserved.
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